Cabinet revokes Kantha’s appointment as CMO

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
THE National Executive Council (NEC) has revoked the appointment of Solomon Kantha as the chief migration officer after discovering that his appointment on Nov 26, 2017 was illegal, Immigration and Border Security Minister Westley Nukundj says.
He also announced that the NEC had appointed Robert Barra Kennedy on Tuesday as acting chief migration officer.
Nukundj said Kantha’s appointment was flawed because the Office of the State Solicitor had not given legal clearance for his appointment citing serious flaws and omissions.
“There was no valid contract of employment between him and the state and his appointment was illegal,” he said.
Nukundj said Kantha was not on the shortlist of candidates recommended by Ministerial Executive Appointment Committee (MEAC) at that material time.
Nukundj said because of the breach in the appointment process under the annulled Public Service (Management) Act 2014 and the Regulatory Statutory Authorities (Appointment to Certain Offices) Act 2014 and its regulations, the State Solicitor was unable to give legal clearance to the contract.
The State Solicitor then advised the Government that the appointment be revoked and the position be re-advertised.
“As the Minister responsible, I complied with the advice of the State Solicitor.
“NEC revoked the appointment of Solomon Kantha and made an appointment for an acting chief migration officer for three months while the position is re-advertised so that anyone can apply, including Mr Kantha himself,” Nukundj said.
The Minister said the revocation had been executed in a transparent manner and was lawful.
Nukundj also dismissed Kantha’s claim that he had been locked out of his office.
“Mr Kantha was not locked out of the office as he claims in Tuesday’s papers (Post Courier and The National).”
Nukundj said such actions by Kantha were totally unprofessional and highly suspicious when he also brought in Police to the office.